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Bjelica proud of Vienna´s Champions League bow

Austria Vienna head coach Nenad Bjelica said he was 'proud' of his team's UEFA Champions League debut despite losing 1-0 to Porto.

Lucho Gonzalez scored the winner for the visitors at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Wednesday, leaving Bjelica frustrated by his side's lack of efficiency up front after they failed to convert one of their 13 shots, while Porto had nine efforts on goal.

Vienna had failed to win one of their three matches prior to their Champions League group stage debut and Bjelica expressed his pride but blamed their form on their struggles in the forward third.

"We can build on this performance," the 42-year-old Croatian said.

"I'm proud of what my team showed today.

"Of course, we lacked efficiency in our attacks but our tactical and physical approach to the game was something we can all be really proud of.

"In recent games we have squandered too many chances and that was the case again tonight. It's definitely an aspect we need to work on in training."

Vienna qualified for the group stage of this season's Champions League after overcoming Iceland's FH Hafnarfjardar and Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb in the qualifying rounds.

Wednesday's clash with Porto marked Vienna's first appearance in the group stages of Europe's leading continental competition, although the Austrian club did reach the quarter-finals three times during the European Cup era, while they also made the semi-finals in the 1978-79 season.

Bjelica claimed Vienna learned against Porto they can match 'the top European sides', although he emphasised the challenge for his team due to the difference between the two clubs' finances.